Predict the Squad/ Starting Lineup for Macedonia

**paul_oshea** · 22/03/2011, 1:13 PM

Originally Posted by EastTerracer

From Ken Early and Daniel McDonnell on Twitter....

KE: "robbie keane will start for ireland against macedonia despite barely playing in months. his experience will be important, says trap"

DMcD: "Trap suggesting that Kevin Foley will start on Saturday. "

KE: "trap sure dunne will be fit for game. likely to use foley at RB rather than coleman because he's more familiar with the position. "

KE: "not yet saying whether clark or kilbane will be preferred at LB. mccarthy will not start, that would be too tough mentally. "

Im taking from this that Clark will not start, and kilbane will be given the nod.

Good news for mccarthy if his family are coming over and to tie him down - even if he was always going to play for ireland.

So:

Westwood
Foley Dunne St Ledger Kilbane
Mcgeady Whelan Green/Gibson Duff
Keane Doyle

Assuming no inuries, going on the above. Im still not sure about Green/gibson...

**SwanVsDalton** · 22/03/2011, 1:19 PM

Foley and Gibson in, over Kelly and Green? McCarthy to get some game time? Trap's turned populist.

**paul_oshea** · 22/03/2011, 1:23 PM

Kelly hasn't played in a long time SvD and isn't starting for fulham.

Green could still play yet!! But mccarthy getting game time is good, even if it is only 3 mins but id hardly say populist just yet.

**SwanVsDalton** · 22/03/2011, 1:28 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Kelly hasn't played in a long time SvD and isn't starting for fulham.

Green could still play yet!! But mccarthy getting game time is good, even if it is only 3 mins but id hardly say populist just yet.

I know Paul, but Trap, for the most part, retains the same order of players barring some kind of emergency. Kelly was in-and-out of the team last year as well, when Foley was playing constantly, and he still was the number 2 RB. So it's a little surprising, if not unwelcome, for Trap to promote Foley.

Only going by the tweet re:Green. Of course we're not sure what'll happen Trap could be playing mind games, making the Macedonians heave a sigh of relief that Green won't play before starting him on Saturday and shattering the oppositions confidence at having to come up against the Green Giant. Or something...

**paul_oshea** · 22/03/2011, 1:35 PM

Kelly featured more for fulham last season though SVD, certainly in their run to the Europa League final.

Sorry I missed the tweet on Green....

**SwanVsDalton** · 22/03/2011, 2:14 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Kelly featured more for fulham last season though SVD, certainly in their run to the Europa League final.

Yah I know, but my point still stands. If he picks Foley this week it'll be a turn-up of Trap's perceived selection policy. A welcome one mind. He thoroughly deserves his chance and will be looking forward to seeing him.

**Charlie Darwin** · 22/03/2011, 2:45 PM

Kelly missed a few weeks through injury before taking up his place on the Fulham bench. It could be a combination of those two factors that's ruled him out.

**the doc** · 22/03/2011, 3:12 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Anyway, Monday night with no fresh injuries reported. Is this a record?

http://www.sportsfile.com/id/500099/

Has Stutts jinx started? The Saint takes a heavy knock after a heavy tackle by Clark!

**Noelys Guitar** · 22/03/2011, 3:22 PM

Team after listening to Trapatooni's interview
Westwood
Wilson, Dunne, St Ledger, Clark
McGeady, Whelan, McCarthy, Duff
Doyle, Keane/Long

**Charlie Darwin** · 22/03/2011, 3:24 PM

Oh dear, is he making opposite statements in different interviews again? James will be in the Scotland squad by Thursday I fancy.

**geysir** · 22/03/2011, 3:38 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Only going by the tweet re:Green. Of course we're not sure what'll happen Trap could be playing mind games, ..

Desperate times if you are going by some tweet, by someone (a feckin' drummer?) - expressing a hope that Green will not play.

It all goes to prove that the opinions of anti-Green brigade are to be taken with a large dose of salt

**geysir** · 22/03/2011, 3:41 PM

Originally Posted by the doc

http://www.sportsfile.com/id/500099/

Has Stutts jinx started? The Saint takes a heavy knock after a heavy tackle by Clark!

Clark is just making sure of his place.

Have you not seen the film Le Couperet?

**KR's Post** · 22/03/2011, 3:42 PM

Westwood

Coleman Dunne St Ledger Kilbane
McGeady Whelan McCarthy Duff
Doyle Keane

Mccarthy to open the scoring and Kiss the Crest!!! Watch this space!

**geysir** · 22/03/2011, 3:46 PM

Except for emergencies Kelly has been a persona not grata on the team since the game against Georgia. It would be no surprise for Foley to be selected ahead of him.

**Charlie Darwin** · 22/03/2011, 3:51 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Desperate times if you are going by some tweet, by someone (a feckin' drummer?) - expressing a hope that Green will not play.

It all goes to prove that the opinions of anti-Green brigade are to be taken with a large dose of salt

It's a reply by Ken Early to a feckin' drummer.

**Noelys Guitar** · 22/03/2011, 3:51 PM

I don't like this bit from RTE sports. Very likely just precautionary
Damien Duff (Achilles) and Seamus Coleman (ankle) also sat out, while Jonathan Walters will join up with the squad on Thursday with his wife about to give birth any day now.

**geysir** · 22/03/2011, 3:55 PM

Footballers should plan out their family with a bit more precision.

**elroy** · 22/03/2011, 4:08 PM

Kevin Foley could get the nod at right-back, with Ciaran Clark vying with the 108 times-capped Kevin Kilbane for a start on the left side of Dunne and Sean St Ledger.

In midfield, Gibson could partner Glenn Whelan in the middle if he shakes off his fitness problems with Duff and Aiden McGeady out wide, while Keane seems certain to start alongside Kevin Doyle in attack with Shane Long held in reserve.

Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/tra...#ixzz1HLh2hgmW

Would be very happy to see Foley start, although it would be a bit bizarre as Trap has more or less refused to give him a run out in the friendlies. But he def deserves a start imo.

Clark has to start ahead of Killer I think. Played well enough against wales and has been solid in the PL, so no reason to think he wouldnt do a good job on sat night. The other big decision is CM where a neither proposed partnership really whets the appetite. Perhaps go with Gibson and Whelan with McCarthy to come on after an hour.

Dunne MUST play, vital he is fit.

**Junior** · 22/03/2011, 4:09 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Oh dear, is he making opposite statements in different interviews again? James will be in the Scotland squad by Thursday I fancy.

We need to get Anthony Stokes da in to sort this communication issue out.

**SwanVsDalton** · 22/03/2011, 5:21 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Desperate times if you are going by some tweet, by someone (a feckin' drummer?) - expressing a hope that Green will not play.

It all goes to prove that the opinions of anti-Green brigade are to be taken with a large dose of salt

Hi Paul.

Originally Posted by geysir

Except for emergencies Kelly has been a persona not grata on the team since the game against Georgia. It would be no surprise for Foley to be selected ahead of him.

Not true, as I outlined in a post earlier in this thread.

An example to be clear - Kelly played 90 minutes against Brazil (Foley on bench), Paraguay (Foley played 8 minutes), Algeria (Foley on bench) and Norway (Foley played 23 minutes). He also came off the bench against Andorra (Foley not on bench and not injured far as I can tell) for 15 minutes. That's just in the last year.

When both have been in the squad, Kelly has been preferred to Foley every time except once - against Nigeria, when Foley made his debut.

It's not a huge surprise if Foley was to get the nod ahead of Kelly, his form has been good and he's been more or less ever present at Wolves (unlike Kelly). But that's been true for sometime, and Trap has stuck with Kelly even in recent matches. It seemed bit of a 'Trap Pick', maybe like Keogh's continued presence in the squad. But it's completely welcome - he should be rewarding Foley for his club form and showing players regular first team football is what's needed.